ATLANTA — By any realistic, objective measurement, Ohio State is one of the healthiest programs in college football. Since 2012, the Buckeyes have lost a mere 14 games — one fewer than Alabama in the same span of time. They’re one of just six programs in the last decade to win a national championship. And on Saturday, they’ll compete in the College Football Playoff for a fifth time, which is more than everybody except Alabama and Clemson.
Strangely, though, this is a sport where narratives often matter more than results. And the narrative around Ohio State, particularly in the last month, hasn’t been flattering.